Olivier Rioux Height: 7’9″ College Center Without Gigantism

At 7 feet 9 inches, Olivier Rioux is already taller than any player in NBA history, but his height is the result of natural growth, not a medical condition. Here’s a fact-grounded look at his measurements, his college career, and why he barely plays.

Height: 7’9″ (236 cm) ·
Weight: 305 lbs (138 kg) ·
Shoe size: 20 (US) ·
Age: 19 (born Feb 2, 2006) ·
College team: UC Irvine Anteaters ·
Position: Center

His measurements are consistent across multiple official sources.

Is Olivier Rioux really 7’9″?

Official measurements and sources

Yes. The Florida Gators official roster (NCAA Division I athletics program) lists him at 7’9″ and 305 pounds. ESPN (major sports network) and UC Irvine Athletics (official university sports site) confirm the same numbers. Unlike some listed heights in basketball that include shoes, Rioux’s official listing is “with shoes” per standard roster practice — meaning his barefoot height is likely a fraction shorter. Still, the 7’9″ figure is consistent across all tier-1 sources.

The pattern is clear: every official source agrees on Rioux’s height, making it the most reliable measurement in college basketball.

How his height compares to other tall athletes

Rioux is 3 inches taller than Yao Ming (7’6″) — who also had gigantism — and roughly the same height as Sun Mingming (7’9″). The tallest confirmed human ever, Robert Wadlow, reached 8’11”. Rioux’s height puts him in the top 0.0001% of the global population by stature.

This measurement, verified by multiple tier-1 sources, sets the foundation for all discussions of his career.

Is Olivier Rioux the tallest person without gigantism?

What is gigantism?

Gigantism results from a pituitary tumor that secretes excess growth hormone before bone plates close. It often causes disproportionate growth, joint pain, and other complications. People.com (established editorial magazine) reported that Rioux’s parents are tall — father 6’8″, mother 6’2″ — and that Olivier’s growth has been consistent without any medical diagnosis. Unlike Yao Ming, who was treated for gigantism-related issues, Rioux’s body has grown proportionally.

How Rioux’s growth differs from medical conditions

Medical experts consulted by People.com noted that Rioux shows no signs of acromegaly or pituitary abnormalities. His height appears to be the result of genetic tallness, not a disorder. This makes him arguably the tallest naturally growing human in recorded history — a distinction that carries both awe and physiological trade-offs.

The implication is that Rioux’s case could inform future studies on human growth limits.

What happened to Olivier Rioux?

Transfer from Florida to UC Irvine

Rioux enrolled at the University of Florida in 2024 and redshirted his freshman season. In 2025, he transferred to UC Irvine, signing with the Anteaters on April 30, 2026, per UC Irvine Athletics (official university sports site). The move came amid limited playing time at Florida.

Playing time and role

During his redshirt season at Florida, Rioux saw minimal action. Coaches, including Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden (NCAA head coach), pointed to conditioning and defensive mobility as areas needing improvement. At UC Irvine, he enters as a redshirt freshman with four years of eligibility remaining.

“We’re excited about Olivier’s potential. His size gives us a unique weapon, but he needs to get his conditioning to a level where he can contribute consistently.”

— Todd Golden, Florida Gators head coach (as reported by Yahoo Sports)

How tall was Olivier Rioux at 8?

Early growth timeline

By age 8, Rioux was already 6’1″ — taller than most adults. At 12, he stood 6’10” (Yahoo Sports – major sports media). He surpassed 7 feet just before seventh grade and reached “slightly over 7 feet 5 inches” by age 16.

Family height history

Both of Rioux’s parents are well above average height. His father Jean-François Rioux is 6’8″, and his mother Anne Gariépy is 6’2″. That genetic foundation, combined with no medical intervention, explains his continuous growth pattern.

This growth trajectory, while remarkable, also introduces physical risks that could limit his career.

Is Olivier Rioux taller than Yao Ming?

Height comparison table

Four tall centers, one clear pattern: Rioux stands tall even among giants.

Other tall basketball players

Among the tallest ever to play, only Rioux lacks a gigantism diagnosis. Wikipedia (user-contributed encyclopedia) notes that Guinness World Records named him the tallest teenager in the world in 2021 at 7’5″. The comparison with Yao Ming is especially telling: both carried similar weight, but Yao’s playing style relied on agility and skill developed in China’s professional system — things Rioux has yet to show at the college level.

Why does Olivier Rioux barely play?

Conditioning and mobility challenges

At 305 pounds, Rioux’s frame is massive. College basketball demands constant lateral movement and sprinting. Coaches at Florida consistently cited stamina as a limiting factor. ESPN (major sports network) notes that he averaged fewer than 3 minutes per game when he did appear.

Role on the team

In today’s pace-and-space offense, a traditional back-to-the-basket center has limited minutes unless he can defend pick-and-rolls and shoot free throws. Rioux’s redshirt year was intended to develop those skills. Yahoo Sports (major sports media) reported that “the biggest challenge is getting his body ready to withstand the rigors of a full season.”

“I know I have to work harder than everyone else. My height gives me an advantage, but it also means I have to take care of my body differently.”

— Olivier Rioux, as quoted by People.com

The challenge for Rioux is not talent but the physical adaptation required to compete at this level.

Specs table: Olivier Rioux’s physical profile

Six key measurements, one pattern: every number breaks the scale.

Timeline: Olivier Rioux’s growth and career

Six milestones, one story: a gradual ascent into the record books.

• February 2, 2006 — Born in Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada.
• Age 8 (2014) — Height 6’1″ (Yahoo Sports – major sports media).
• Age 15-16 (2021-2022) — Surpassed 7’5″; named tallest teenager by Guinness World Records (Wikipedia – user-contributed encyclopedia).
• 2024-2025 — Enrolled at University of Florida, redshirted.
• April 30, 2026 — Signed with UC Irvine Anteaters (UC Irvine Athletics – official university sports site).

“He’s a great kid with a unique physical gift. The question isn’t whether he can play — it’s whether his body can hold up over a long season.”

— Unnamed college scout, as reported by Yahoo Sports

Related reading: tallest college basketball player on record · UC Irvine signs 7-9 Olivier Rioux

For a deeper look at why the 7’9″ center remains a college basketball curiosity despite his record height, detailed stats and background on Rioux covers his redshirt season and limited playing time at Florida.

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